What Is Cumin Made From? Plant, Seeds & Flavor
Quick answer: Cumin is made from the dried seeds of the plant Cuminum cyminum, a member of the parsley family. The seeds can be used whole or ground into the familiar warm, earthy spice.
What is Cumin Made From? The Simple Explanation
Cumin is not made from a root or bark. It comes from the dried seeds of a flowering herb. Those narrow, ridged seeds are harvested, dried and sold whole or ground into powder.
What plant does cumin come from?
Cumin comes from Cuminum cyminum, an annual plant in the Apiaceae family, which also includes parsley, coriander, fennel and carrots.
What does cumin taste like?
Cumin tastes warm, earthy, slightly bitter and nutty, with a distinctive savory aroma. Toasting whole seeds makes the aroma deeper and more complex.
Whole cumin vs ground cumin
Whole seeds hold their aroma longer and are excellent for toasting in a dry pan or blooming in oil. Ground cumin is faster and easier to distribute through spice blends, sauces and marinades.
What is cumin used for?
Cumin appears in cuisines across the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, Mexico and beyond. It is common in chili, curries, kebabs, beans, rice dishes and seasoning blends.
Is cumin a herb or a spice?
Cumin is considered a spice because the culinary ingredient is the dried seed of the plant rather than its leafy green parts.
Bottom line
Cumin is simply dried seed from the Cuminum cyminum plant. Its warm, earthy flavor makes it one of the most useful savory spices to keep in the kitchen.